Jakarta — The Santri Film Festival (SANFFEST) 2025 has been successfully held, marking an important milestone in Indonesia’s cultural landscape by connecting Islamic boarding schools (pesantren) with the national film ecosystem.
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According to Neno Warisman, Chairperson of the SANFFEST 2025 Committee, this year’s festival represented a long and challenging journey—yet one filled with pride and meaningful achievements. SANFFEST 2025 was not merely a film competition, but also served as a learning platform and creative mentorship space for santri (Islamic boarding school students) from various regions across Indonesia.
A Two-Month Creative Journey for Santri Filmmakers
Affectionately known as Bunda Neno, Neno Warisman explained that the SANFFEST 2025 program ran for nearly two months, beginning with the ta’aruf (introductory phase) on October 21 and culminating in the Awards Night on December 21, 2025.
Throughout this period, the SANFFEST team conducted intensive mentoring sessions in multiple regions, followed by curation, jury evaluation, and preparations for the grand finale.
“This was truly a marathon—day and night. We accompanied santri in many regions, then moved on to curation, judging, and finally the awards ceremony,” said Bunda Neno during the SANFFEST 2025 Awards Night, held on Sunday (December 21, 2025) at Sasono Langgen Budoyo, Taman Mini Indonesia Indah (TMII), Jakarta.
Setting New Standards in Film Awards Presentation
One of the biggest challenges in organizing SANFFEST 2025, according to Neno, was building a new brand identity within Indonesia’s film awards landscape. The committee aimed to establish a distinctive standard, setting SANFFEST apart from conventional award ceremonies.
This effort was reflected in the decision to present a fully live orchestral performance, led by Rizky Febrio Bay Haqi, alongside a live choir performance by Rhapsodia Choir, conducted by Mohammad Charles. Even the fanfare was performed live, rather than using pre-recorded or playback audio.
“Most award ceremonies rely on ready-made or playback fanfares. At SANFFEST, everything was live and created specifically for this event. It wasn’t easy, but it was essential to build a strong identity and a new standard,” she explained.
Surpassing Expectations: The Quality of Santri Films
Neno Warisman also expressed her surprise and emotional response to the quality of the santri films showcased at SANFFEST 2025. According to her, the works exceeded expectations, not only in terms of visual presentation, but also in poster design and narrative strength.
The festival demonstrated that santri filmmakers possess strong storytelling abilities and cinematic sensibilities, proving that pesantren-based creatives can compete within the broader Indonesian film industry.
From Pesantren to the National Film Industry
SANFFEST 2025 reaffirmed its role as more than a festival—it became a bridge between pesantren communities and Indonesia’s national film ecosystem. By providing mentorship, exposure, and professional standards, the festival contributed to the growth of a more inclusive and diverse film industry.
